Feeding pigeons or chewing gum on a train: The strange local laws that could land you in trouble overseas

Tourists often face fines or even jail because they have not researched what is illegal in certain countries

A bird in the hand: Local customs like feeding pigeons can prove troublesome

Brits abroad can fall foul of strange local laws simply by feeding pigeons or chewing gum on a train, the Foreign Office has warned.

Tourists often face fines or even jail because they have not researched what is illegal in certain countries.

Camouflage clothing risks a run-in with the authorities in Barbados and in Barcelona going bare-chested or wearing a bikini away from the beach is an offence.

Japan bans the import of certain nasal sprays, Fiji outlaws topless sunbathing and publicly observing any religion other than Islam in the Maldives is forbidden.

Venice clamps down on pigeon feeding and Singapore does not tolerate gum-chewing on trains. The Foreign Office said a quarter of cases where Brits need consular help are for arrests and detentions.

The FO's consular services director, Charles Hay, said: "Every year British nationals find themselves on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly, resulting in fines or in some cases arrests or even jail sentences.

"It is important to remember that laws and customs can vary greatly from country to country and what may be perfectly legal in the UK could be subject to a fine or even a jail sentence in another."

He went on: "Consular staff often find that travellers are unaware that local laws apply to them and many British nationals think of their British passport as a 'get out of jail free' card. While consular staff will always try to assist British nationals who find themselves in difficulty abroad, we can't interfere in another country's legal processes.

"We want Brits to have a great time when they travel abroad so it is also a good idea to research the country they are visiting before they travel. Country-specific laws and customs can be found at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice."